In 2009, a team of researchers from Montreal, Canada, implemented SPOT, an intervention aimed at reducing HIV transmission among men who have sex with men by offering rapid HIV testing in a community setting. During the first phase, counseling based on Quebec guidelines for rapid HIV testing was offered (standard counseling - SC) and in the second phase, counseling based on motivational interviewing (MIC) was developed and validated. The current phase of the project aims to strengthen the work undertaken during previous phases. The objective of the study is to assess the short and medium term effect of MIC on the occurrence of at-risk anal intercourse and its cognitive determinants. Participants will be randomly assigned to either SC or MIC, and will respond to a baseline questionnaire documenting their sexual behavior and psychosexual profile prior to the intervention at the start of their initial visit (T0). The effect of counseling will be assessed following the intervention at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2) and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3).

The SPOT Project: Effect of Counseling Based on Motivational Interviewing Offered in Conjunction With Rapid HIV Testing on the Occurrence of Unprotected Anal Sex and Its Determinants Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in Montreal

Change from baseline occurrence of at-risk anal intercourse at 6 months [ Time Frame: Prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Occurrence of at-risk anal intercourse will be assessed prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3).

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Change from baseline importance that participants accord to taking the necessary steps to protect themselves from HIV at 6 months [ Time Frame: Prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Importance that participants accord to taking the necessary steps to protect themselves from HIV will be assessed prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3).

Change from baseline perceived personal efficacy in protecting themselves from HIV at 6 months [ Time Frame: Prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Perceived personal efficacy in protecting themselves from HIV will be assessed prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3)

Change from baseline intention to protect themselves from HIV at 6 months [ Time Frame: Prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Intention to protect themselves from HIV will be assessed prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3)

Change from baseline extent to which participants have planned to protect themselves from HIV at 6 months [ Time Frame: Prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Extent to which participants have planned to protect themselves from HIV will be assessed prior to pre-test counseling at the start of participants' initial visit (baseline, T0), after post-test counseling at the end of the initial visit (T1), at 3 months after the initial visit (T2), and at 6 months after the initial visit (T3)

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01931345